Industrial Engineer - Manufacturing & Process Improvement

West Coast Personnel; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

West Coast Personnel is seeking an Industrial Engineering professional to analyse manufacturing processes on the factory floor and drive practical improvements. You will identify bottlenecks, implement lean systems and standardise procedures to raise efficiency and reduce waste.

The role requires hands-on work with production teams, strong Excel skills and the ability to translate findings into actionable improvements, with a focus on continuous improvement and KPI monitoring.

Qualifications

• T3 / National Diploma / Diploma in Industrial Engineering or equivalent qualification.
• Practical experience within a manufacturing, engineering or production environment.
• Proven exposure to process improvement, workflow optimisation or manufacturing systems.
• Strong understanding of production processes and factory operations.
• Experience implementing new systems, procedures or operational controls.
• Ability to analyse processes and convert findings into practical improvements.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and general computer skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees ranging from factory-floor personnel to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Analyse manufacturing processes, workflows and production methods.
• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, waste, rework and unnecessary costs.
• Develop and implement improved manufacturing systems, procedures and controls.
• Standardise processes and develop practical Standard Operating Procedures.
• Improve production planning, workflow and capacity utilisation.
• Optimise the movement of materials, components and work-in-progress through the factory.
• Review workstation layouts and production flow to improve efficiency.
• Conduct time and motion studies where required.
• Establish measurable production standards and performance indicators.
• Introduce systems to monitor productivity, quality, output, waste and rework.
• Improve stock, material and work-in-progress controls.
• Reduce manufacturing costs and production lead times.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles where appropriate.
• Investigate recurring production problems and assist with root-cause analysis.
• Develop corrective actions and monitor their effectiveness.
• Work closely with production, engineering, procurement, stores and management.
• Train employees on newly introduced procedures, systems and working methods.
• Mentor and coach production employees and supervisors.
• Promote improved accountability, structure and operational discipline.
• Monitor adherence to newly implemented systems and procedures.
• Assist with the implementation of ERP, MRP, production-management or related operational systems.
• Prepare manufacturing performance reports and recommendations for management.
• Manage improvement projects from initial assessment through implementation, training and ongoing measurement.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

T3 / National Diploma / Diploma in Industrial Engineering

Tools

ERP/MRP experience

Production planning software

MS Excel

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse manufacturing processes, workflows and production methods.


• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, waste, rework and unnecessary costs.


• Develop and implement improved manufacturing systems, procedures and controls.


• Standardise processes and develop practical Standard Operating Procedures.


• Improve production planning, workflow and capacity utilisation.


• Optimise the movement of materials, components and work-in-progress through the factory.


• Review workstation layouts and production flow to improve efficiency.


• Conduct time and motion studies where required.


• Establish measurable production standards and performance indicators.


• Introduce systems to monitor productivity, quality, output, waste and rework.


• Improve stock, material and work-in-progress controls.


• Reduce manufacturing costs and production lead times.


• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.


• Implement Lean Manufacturing principles where appropriate.


• Investigate recurring production problems and assist with root-cause analysis.


• Develop corrective actions and monitor their effectiveness.


• Work closely with production, engineering, procurement, stores and management.


• Train employees on newly introduced procedures, systems and working methods.


• Mentor and coach production employees and supervisors.


• Promote improved accountability, structure and operational discipline.


• Monitor adherence to newly implemented systems and procedures.


• Assist with the implementation of ERP, MRP, production-management or related operational systems.


• Prepare manufacturing performance reports and recommendations for management.


• Manage improvement projects from initial assessment through implementation, training and ongoing measurement.

Minimum Requirements

• T3 / National Diploma / Diploma in Industrial Engineering, or an equivalent recognised Industrial Engineering qualification.


• Practical experience within a manufacturing, engineering or production environment.


• Proven exposure to process improvement, workflow optimisation or manufacturing systems.


• Strong understanding of production processes and factory operations.


• Experience implementing new systems, procedures or operational controls.


• Ability to analyse processes and convert findings into practical improvements.


• Strong Microsoft Excel and general computer skills.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to work effectively with employees ranging from factory-floor personnel to senior management.

Highly Advantageous

• Experience within industrial refrigeration, HVAC, mechanical engineering, fabrication or capital-equipment manufacturing.


• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.


• Six Sigma knowledge or training.


• ERP, MRP or production-planning system experience.


• Experience developing SOPs, KPIs and manufacturing performance measures.


• Factory optimisation or productivity-improvement experience.


• Experience coaching or mentoring manufacturing employees and supervisors.

The Ideal Candidate

You are not an Industrial Engineer who wants to spend the entire day behind a desk.

You enjoy being on the factory floor, understanding how work is actually being done and working alongside production teams to introduce practical improvements. You are analytical, structured and process-driven, but equally comfortable working with people.

You can challenge inefficient practices constructively, introduce better systems and then follow through to ensure that those systems become part of the organisation's everyday way of working. Strong people skills will be as important as strong Industrial Engineering methodology.

Key Performance Areas

Success will be measured through improvements in:

• Manufacturing productivity and efficiency.


• Production workflow and factory utilisation.


• Production planning and scheduling.


• Waste and rework.


• Production lead times.


• Manufacturing costs.


• SOP implementation and compliance.


• Operational controls and reporting.


• Employee adoption of new systems and processes.


• Recurring production problems.


• Overall manufacturing performance.